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 pages of the copy only is exhausted, and there remains 80, besides the death ; as to which I shall be concise, though solemn ; also many letters. Pray how shall I wind up ? Shall I give the character in my Tour, somewhat enlarged * ?

London, Feb. 25. 1791. I have not seen Sir Joshua I think for a fortnight. I have been worse than you can possibly imagine, or I hope ever shall be able to imagine ; which no man can do without experiencing the malady. It has been for some time painful to me to be in company. I, however, am a little better, and to meet Sir Joshua to-day at dinner at Mr. Dance's 2, and shall tell him that he is to have good Irish claret.

I am in a distressing perplexity how to decide as to the property of my book. You must know, that I am certainly informed that a certain person who delights in mischief has been depreciating it 3, so that I fear the sale of it may be very dubious. Two quartos and two guineas sound in an alarming manner. I believe, in my present frame, I should accept even of 5oc/. ; for I suspect that were I now to talk to Robinson 4 , I should find him not disposed to give iooo/. Did he abso lutely offer it, or did he only express himself so as that you concluded he would give it ? The pressing circumstance is, that I must lay down iooo/. by the 1st of May, on account of the purchase of land, which my old family enthusiasm urged me to make. You, I doubt not, have full confidence in my honesty. May I then ask you if you could venture to join with me in

1 In the entry of Feb. 10, 1791, In consequence of his political I have followed the reprint of the phrenzy, he at this moment is appre- original in Mr. A. Morrison's Auto- hensive of judgment being pro- graphs, 2nd series, i. 375. nounced against him by the King's

2 There were two painters of this Bench for selling Paine's pamphlet, name, George and Nathaniel. Tay- and may probably be punished for lor's Reynolds, i. 260 ; ii. 609. his zeal in the " good old cause," as

3 George Steevens, no doubt. they called it in the last century, by

4 Malone, writing on Nov. 15, 1793, six months imprisonment. I shall about Mr. George Robinson, who had not have the smallest pity for him.' undertaken to publish a new edition Hist. MSS. Com., Thirteenth Report, of his Shakespeare, says : ' He is App. viii. 222.

unluckily a determined republican.

VOL. ii. D a bond

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